Fire-escape door.



PATBN TED AUG. 28, 1906.

A. SEAHOLM. FIRE ESCAPE DOOR; APPLIOATIOH FILED NOV.1. 1905.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 28, 1 906.

Application filed November 1, 1905- Serial No. 286,486.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ALFRED SEAHoLM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Fire-Escape Doors, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to fire-escape doors, and particularly to a meansfor opening such doors in emergencies, said means comprising a boltwhich normally holds the door locked, but which will be operated torelease the door by means of a connection with a plate at the threshold,so that when a person steps upon said plate upon approaching the doorthe latter will open without further manipulation.

The invention is'illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in whichFigure 1 is an elevation, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section on the line 22 of Fig. 1.

Referring specifically to the drawings, G indicates a hinged door,usually or preferably fireproof, opening outward from the wall II, inwhich it is set. Double doors" are shown, Which are lapped in the usualmanner, so that only one locking device is necessary. The locking devicecomprises a vertical bolt A, which slides under straps a, secured to thedoor. Its upper end enters a socket I in the lintel to hold the doorclosed. At the bottom of the door is a fixed catch B, which enters ahole in the plate E, which forms the threshold or door-sill. This plateis hinged at e, at the inner edge of the wall, and its outer edge swingsadjacent to the bottom of the door. Under the plate E is a recesscontaining a spring F, which tends to lift said plate. The bolt A has atits lower end a notch K, in which the free edge of the plate E isengaged. Springs D are secured to the sides of the doorway and pressagainst the doors, tending to open the same. 0 indicates a spring whichis secured to the door and engages the bolt A and normally lifts thesame, holding it in locked position.

In operation when the sill-plate E is stepped upon it swings down,releasing the catch- B and pulling down the bolt A, releasing the samefrom the socket I. Then the springs D throw the doors open. The doorsare locked by closing the same from the inside and then stepping oil theplate E, causing said plate to lift and engage the catch B and raise thebolt A into its socket.

The floor or platform on the outside of the door is necessarily lowerthan the bottom of the latter, so that it. may swing thereover.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The combination with a door, of a Vertically-sliding bolt carriedthereby, engageable at its head in a socket in the lintel and having anotch in its foot, and a yielding sillplate engaged at its edge in thenotch, to pull down the rod when stepped on.

2. The combination with a door, of a vertical sliding bolt carriedthereby and engagable at its head in a socket in the lintel, a catchprojecting downwardly at the lower end of the door, and a hingedspring-supported sill-plate engageable with the bolt andhaving a hole inwhich said catch is engaged.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALFRED SEAIIOLM.

Witnesses:

N ELLIE FELTsKoe, H. G. BATCHELOR.

